Cinder Block

By Ellen James Martin and Ellen James Martin,Staff Writer | July 12, 1992

Bowie -- The siding is concrete. The walls are concrete. The floor joists are concrete. The ceilings are concrete. Even the roofing is done with concrete shingles.Virtually everything in this 2,300-square-foot home model home here is made of concrete. And the concrete bears very little resemblance to old "cinder block" construction that has long implied dampness, cheapness or the mass production of industrial buildings.To show the public and the building industry what can be done with today's concrete building materials, the National Concrete Masonry Association will formally open its "Lifestyle 2000" house in Bowie Thursday.

Near the cornfields on Old Frederick and Sand Hill roads in Marriottsville stands a slice of suburbia, and there's often trouble brewing. Some drunk might be getting out of hand at The Greene Turtle. An armed robber could be holding up the Columbia Bank, or a couple's argument boiling over in a townhouse. Always plenty of police around to handle it, though, even if some of them still have on their training wheels. They're learning or refreshing their skills, and doing it in settings dressed up to simulate the world outside the James N. Robey Public Safety Training Center in Howard County.

I keep hearing that the old Fawcett Boat Supplies building in Annapolis is an eyesore made of cinder block that obstructs the view of Ego Alley ( "Annapolis whiffs again," July 11). But only one side of the building is cinder block, and an outdoor photo mural is also placed there along with shade trees and benches. The remaining three sides are brick and baby blue-painted wood in reasonably well maintained shape. This building was used as a supermarket in the 1950s. Do we give up on other older buildings next?

Police Mount Airy: Owners of Ridgeville Car Wash told police Wednesday that a window was broken by a cinder block and money was taken. Damage and loss were estimated at $2,100. Fire Winfield: Firefighters responded at 10: 32 p.m. Wednesday to a trash fire at Route 26 and Klees Mill Road. Units were out 30 minutes.

Annapolis scientist honored for his workDr. Appajosula Srinivasa Rao of Annapolis has been honored by the Washington Academy of Sciences for his outstanding achievement in the field of physical sciences.He also received a one-year honorary membership in the academy. Dr. Rao is an employee of the Carderock Division ofthe Naval Surface Warfare Center in Annapolis.POLICE LOG* Annapolis: Someone threw a cinder block through the front door of Jennison Fashion, at 167 Jennifer Road, Tuesday morning and stole 40 summer suits worth about $4,000.

I keep hearing that the old Fawcett Boat Supplies building in Annapolis is an eyesore made of cinder block that obstructs the view of Ego Alley ( "Annapolis whiffs again," July 11). But only one side of the building is cinder block, and an outdoor photo mural is also placed there along with shade trees and benches. The remaining three sides are brick and baby blue-painted wood in reasonably well maintained shape. This building was used as a supermarket in the 1950s. Do we give up on other older buildings next?

Nearly two dozen occupants of the Rainbow View Apartments in the 400 block of Summer Wind Way were evacuated last night after a maintenance worker called police and reported a possible bomb in a mailbox, a county fire official said.Battalion Chief Gary Sheckells of the county Fire Department said a maintenance worker heard a ticking sound coming from a mailbox in a hallway about 6: 30 p.m. and called police.At 10 p.m., a bomb-disposal squad from the State Fire Marshal's Office was trying to dismantle the mailbox to determine whether an explosive device was inside, Sheckells said.

Three Umbro jackets were stolen from a Dakota Sports store in the 500 block of Ritchie Highway Monday night after someone threw a cinder block through the store's plate glass window, police said.The jackets were worth $240 and had been hanging on a rack by the window. Damage to the window was estimated at $900, police said.Police went to the store in the Park Plaza after the alarm sounded about 9:30 p.m. Officers searched the area, but could not find a suspect, police said.POLICE LOG* Shipleys Choice :Someone stole golf clubs and golf clothes worth more than $3,000 from a garage in the 500 block of Whitehorse Court sometime Monday or Tuesday, police said.

Cinder block walls may have their place in the urban landscape, but it's not necessarily in Baltimore's historic districts. When a rowhouse collapses or gets torn down in an older neighborhood, it's jarring to see a cinder block wall go up on the side of the adjacent property, especially if the rest of the building is faced with brick or stone. In recent months, Baltimore's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation has been working to make sure any replacement walls built by city crews in historic districts comply with the same design guidelines the commission asks private property owners to follow.

Police reports in baltimore city: and county: Southeastern Baltimore Burglary Two laptop computers, a DVD player, video games and their accessories, and cash, all valued at $4,550, were stolen Monday from a house in the 600 block of Fagley St. by someone who entered through a rear window. Southwestern Baltimore Stolen vehicle A maroon four-door 2006 Hyundai Sonata with tags 4DT A39 was parked in the 1600 block of Sexton St. early Monday with its engine running when someone stole it. Police said the owner was given a traffic ticket for leaving a motor vehicle unattended with its engine running.

For a time it seemed as if Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had a wall of steel wrapped around it rather than red, white and blue cinder block - always a step ahead of competitors with its buying power and low prices. But like other consumer giants that once seemed invincible - from Sears to McDonald's to General Motors - Wal-Mart is discovering that it is vulnerable to changing consumer habits and tastes. The world's largest retailer stumbled through the holiday season, turning to an emergency advertising campaign to rescue sales after consumers snubbed the company known for "everyday low prices" for charging more than competitors on certain items.

Cinder block walls may have their place in the urban landscape, but it's not necessarily in Baltimore's historic districts. When a rowhouse collapses or gets torn down in an older neighborhood, it's jarring to see a cinder block wall go up on the side of the adjacent property, especially if the rest of the building is faced with brick or stone. In recent months, Baltimore's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation has been working to make sure any replacement walls built by city crews in historic districts comply with the same design guidelines the commission asks private property owners to follow.

Police Mount Airy: Owners of Ridgeville Car Wash told police Wednesday that a window was broken by a cinder block and money was taken. Damage and loss were estimated at $2,100. Fire Winfield: Firefighters responded at 10: 32 p.m. Wednesday to a trash fire at Route 26 and Klees Mill Road. Units were out 30 minutes.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Northeastern DistrictBank robbery: A man gave a teller at the Heritage Savings Bank in the 4200 block of Harford Road a holdup note about 1: 20 p.m. yesterday and escaped with an undisclosed sum of cash. No weapon was displayed.Southern DistrictStolen car: A 4-door 1987 Chevrolet with tags DTK 186 was stolen Wednesday in the 3000 block of Ascension St.Stolen car: A 1986 Pontiac Fiero with tags CKV 011 was stolen Wednesday in the 1600 block of Plum St.Burglary: Cash, a TV, videocassette recorder, answering machine and a clock-radio, all valued at nearly $600, were stolen Wednesday from a house in the 300 block of S. Calhoun St.Theft: A mountain bike valued at $300 was stolen Wednesday in the 100 block of E. Fort Ave.Northwestern DistrictTheft: A man stole jewelry valued at more than $400 from display shelves at M & G Jewelry in the 6500 block of Reisterstown Road shortly before closing Wednesday night.

On a summer night 15 years ago, 10-year-old Adam Edward Faulkner slipped out the back door with his new fishing rig and a comforter, in search of adventure. Four days later, his nude, battered body was found tied to a piling in the Middle River near Hawthorne Park.Yesterday, two Essex men long suspected in the case were arrested, Baltimore County police said. Roger Allen Stump, 32, of the first block of Haley Road and his brother, John Ellwood Stump, 30, of the 600 block of Dunwich Way were charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

By Richard Irwin and Richard Irwin,Staff Writer Joe Nawrozki contributed to this story | April 16, 1992

Two explosions caused by natural gas and a four-alarm fire destroyed a fabric and canvas firm in southeast Baltimore early today, putting at least 25 people out of work.Just after 1:30 a.m., residents of the 300 block of S. Lehigh St., about three blocks south of the firm, reported an explosion.Fire Department spokesman Capt. Hector Torres said an investigation is under way to determine "what caused what. We do know there was a gas leak and BG&E workers shut off the gas early this morning."

Nearly two dozen occupants of the Rainbow View Apartments in the 400 block of Summer Wind Way were evacuated last night after a maintenance worker called police and reported a possible bomb in a mailbox, a county fire official said.Battalion Chief Gary Sheckells of the county Fire Department said a maintenance worker heard a ticking sound coming from a mailbox in a hallway about 6: 30 p.m. and called police.At 10 p.m., a bomb-disposal squad from the State Fire Marshal's Office was trying to dismantle the mailbox to determine whether an explosive device was inside, Sheckells said.